Joe Benning Photography
We docked in Singapore this morning and we will be here in this very modern city for 3 days. Here are a few photos.
Joe
Singapore Sunset
Path to underground walkway
Sculpture on Orchard Road, Singapore
Cable Cars in Singapore
Here are some photos taken at Penang and Langkawi, both part of Malaysia. They include a shot of Kek Lok Si Temple, cable cars that Mary Anne and I took for a ride up the side of a mountain, a farmer’s roadside market in Penang, a scarecrow in a rice paddy, a woman working in a Batik factory and others.
Joe
Photo of a woman painting in a stencil in a Batik factory in Penang, Malaysia
Scarecrow in Rice Paddy, Langkawi
Pre-wedding photo of a Chinese bride to be
Mary Anne at the Top of Gunung Mat Chinchang after trip on the Langkawi Cable Car
Lounge Chairs on the beach in a Penang resort
A Sky Ride to the top of Gunung Mat Chinchang
One of the largest Buddhist Temples in Malaysia, Kek Lok Si Temple, in Penang
The Gate of Heaven at Kek Lok Si Temple
Here are photos from Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. They include pictures of the National Mosque, Mary Anne visiting the Mosque, Butterflies from a Malaysian butterfly farm, the Petronas Twin Towers, Melaka (Independence) Square, and Mary Anne with friends from the cruise. Also includes footage taken at the Aquarium.
Joe
Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Orange and White Butterfly
Masjid Negara, the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Melaka Square Kuala Lumpur
Mary Anne, Maliki, Paula and Donald
Mary Anne in Kuala Lumpur
Mary Anne visiting the National Mosque
Butterfly on a Leaf
Butterfly Landing in Flower
Black Butterfly on a Yellow Flower
Footage taken at the KL Aquarium
Some photos of life on the Island of Java including Borobudur Temple, the largest in Indonesia; traditional Javanese dancers; a Javanese coffee shop, and Mary Anne posing with a friend from the ship by a statue of a young Buddha on a cow.
Joe
A sample of the panels of artwork that cover the exterior of Borobudur Temple.
Tennis Court and Observation Area under a Thatched Roof in Java
Mary Anne and Ricki pose by a statue of the Buddha on a cow, near Borobudur Temple.
Mid morning coffee break
Traditional Javanese Dance
All the stones are balanced without mortar
Decorative parasols on display at Java coffee house
Note the scale by looking at the people on the right and left corners of the photo
Exotic Bali
Well Bali certainly turned out to be exotic. We are now on our way to Java, Indonesia and expect to arrive tomorrow morning. Here are some photos of some of the sights from Bali. They include shots taken at the Royal Court of Justice, Rice Paddies, the Port of Benoa, a woman carrying produce on her head outside the Holy Besakih Temple and a woman carrying her wares on a beach.
Joe
Woman balancing produce on her head at the Holy Besakih Temple
A section of the Kerta Gosa, or the Royal Court of Justice, Bali Indonesia
Photo of the Rice Paddies of Jatiluwih
Greeting at Port Benoa by native Balinese people
Woman balancing packages on her head while walking on the beach
Shot taken by the last stairway leading to to the Pura Besakih, the largest Hindu Temple in Bali
Kurt Gosa, or the Royal Court of Justice, in Semarapura, Bali Indonesia
Woman balancing fruits and vegetables on her head in the market in Bali, Indonesia.
A display of an offering to the gods at the Royal Court of Justice.
A section of the Kerta Gosa, or the Royal Court of Justice, Bali Indonesia
As we left Hamilton Island setting sail for Darwin, the ship’s captain married a young couple at sea. As pictures were being taken after the ceremony, the bride indicated that she would like some of the photos to show the gorgeous sunset in the background. At first this appeared to pose a bit of a dilemma since the sun was setting on the opposite side of the ship from where the pictures were being taken. Not a problem for the Crystal Serenity officers and crew, though. The Captain ordered the ship to circle around; the photos were taken and we then we proceeded on our way.
And speaking of photos, here are some taken in Darwin, in the Northern territories in the Australian Outback.
Joe
Wedge-tailed eagle with trainer in the Australian outback
A Coocal Bird lands on Trainer’s Arm
Lily Pads in the Australian Outback
Wedge-tailed eagle on trainer’s glove in the Australian outback
We are anchored off Hamilton Island, one of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday chain. Along the way we have done a lot of sightseeing in Sydney, in Brisbane, and sailing around Hamilton Island.
Here are some photos.
Ships anchored at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Jet skiers glide by in the distance.
Sydney Harbor, Australia
Sailing along the river with the Brisbane skyline behind us.
Entering the harbor by the Hamilton Island Yacht Club
A Ferris Wheel in Brisbane, Australia near the river bank
Crystal Serenity anchored off Hamilton Island, Australia
An outdoor Cafe in Sydney Australia
Brisbane skyline shot from a boat on the Brisbane River
Restaurants along the Sydney Harbor
Photo of the Sydney skyline as day breaks
Two busy days in Sydney. Among other things, we toured the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The iconic Sydney Opera House
We visited an Australian wildlife reserve.
Photo of a Lizard at an Australian wildlife reserve
And we walked along the Sydney Harbor on a walking tour of “The Rocks” a section of the city.
Restaurants and Buildings on Sydney Harbor
Joe
The waters got a bit rough last night. But the saloons stayed open. Maybe it had something to do with the Captain’s announcement that by leaving Fiji when we did we beat a Cyclone, complete with 60-foot waves, by 2-days.
Anyway, here are some pictures of Birds we saw on Noumea, New Caledonia. (Sorry it’s slow getting the pictures posted, but they take a lot of bandwidth out here).
A Wedge-tailed shearwater sits on a pole seemingly like a lookout
Birds on a Tree Limb
We are at sea headed for Sydney Australia, having left Noumea, New Caledonia where it is now Valentine’s day. So here are some pictures from Noumea, including some “Love Birds” for Valentine’s Day.
Joe
A Toucan with his beak wide open.
Noumean Birds Flirting
Talk about service. We made a quick side trip to Mystery Island, a very small island that is part of a chain of islands known as Vanuata. The cruise ship set up a bar on the beach for cruise guests and the staff waded into the Pacific to serve drinks. See the picture.
Joe
Canoes on shore in the South Pacific
Wait staff brings drinks to partiers in the Pacific
Some shots from Lautoka, Fiji, including: orchids from the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, created by Raymond Burr of Perry Mason fame; local traders showing their wares, and the house of a village Chief.
Lautoka traders showing their wares to tourists
Orchids in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant
Picture of the house of a village chief on the island of Lautoka, Fiji